The Road Back

View to sea near La Isla Inn
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After a long day of snorkeling and walking the Cahuita National Park trail back, we were exhausted.  We still had not made it into town for a night out though, so this was the night.  Properly primed and ready, we headed into town.  It was DEAD!  I had read that this was a real party town.  As for turistas, we saw a few couples, and the miscellaneeous bicyclist.  There were many locals, attending empty souvenier stands, calling at us to view their wares.  We walked up the main street, turned around and walked back.  Along the way we met Mario.  All I will say is "Thanks Mario!"

Lifeguard tower outside of La Isla Inn
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The next morning we found out why the town was so quiet.  Apparently there was some sort of music festival that we had not heard about.  No worries, tickets were $60 per person.

We decided to take one last walk on the beach before heading back to San Jose for our morning flight.  This place is so amazingly bueautiful.  There are areas where the reef has been raised to just over the water line.  As the tide goes out, there are groups of fish that remain in the tidal pools.  These are all over the place.  There are areas where the jungle literally hangs over the water, leaving just enough exposed sand to walk on.  The beach comes to a point, at the end of Playa Cocles.  There the jungle rises up on a ledge and stretches out over the water.  In the alcove that is created, jungle, sand, surf, sun, shade, waves and reef come together to create a earthly paradise.  I found my  place in the world!  Now I have to leave.

The end of Playa Cocles
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The drive back was mostly uneventful.  Wrong turn on a one-way street in Limon, passing trucks in the continuing game of 'chicken' and getting stuck in the distribution center traffic jam - all standard.  One thing you may have noticied that I have not written about is RAIN.  This was a trip during the 'green season.'  It was supposed to rain, a lot!  In the whole trip, we had about 30 total minutes of rain.  Now, just outside of Guapiles, we met the Costa Rican green season.  It had been building in the south most of the morning.  By noon we got our downpour.  The rain continued, and continued.  Twenty minutes passed Guapiles I realized that there would not be another gas station until San Jose, so I turned aroung - and the rain poured down.  We got to Braulo Carillo park, and it continued to rain.  I was thrilled!  The park is even prettier in the clouds and mist.  As we ascended, we left the rain behind, climbing through the mist and clouds.  We got our one last Costa Rica experience, and we were happy.

Arriving in San Jose I recalled our previous attempt at navigating the city streets.  This time I would be prepared.  We reviewd the map, pulled out the pens and highlighters and charted our course.  As soon as we got into town, though, the map became a fancy idea that was not truly based in reality.  I got us lost again.  I followed taxis, then a nice Mercedes, thinking "surely they are going to the airport."  Alas, we entered a questionable part of town.  Not that it was run down, but it was definitely not intended for through traffic.  There were 3-story apartments with kids playing in the one-way streets, clothes hanging on outside lines to dry, and a host of other domestic clues leading me to believe that we were now residential.  Finally, I saw a larger street, and on the corner, the international symbol for airport (aeropuerto, flughafen, luchthaven, aeroporto).

Drop off the car, get a room again at the Hotel Aeropuerto, watch the Suns lose to the Spurs and off to bed.  7:30am flight - don't do it unless you MUST (or unless it's free).

On the flight back, I reflected on the most amazing trip I was concluding, and on how I loved this country and the people.  I will come back, often.  The natural beauty, the number and variety of things to do, the food (mmmm, tipical), everything was great.

p.s. Raul, I need to get into contact with a good realtor in PV.